Category Archives: Martin Stephenson

UK ’80s Music Legends Martin Stephenson & The Daintees To Tour In Support of New CD Release
‘California Star’

3/22/2012 – London, UK – The music world is buzzing with excitement about the forthcoming CD release by UK ’80s music legends Martin Stephenson & The Daintees titled ‘California Star’ on Gonzo MultiMedia. Much to the elation of his fans, in support of Martin’s new release a tour of the UK is scheduled for April 2012. Martin is an outstanding singer and songwriter, whose career in music now stretches back over thirty years of critical acclaim and relentless touring. Martin’s new CD incorporates an eclectic range of musical styles, from Zappa & Beefheart, through Rockabilly, old time string music to straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll. “This album was recorded in Stirling, Scotland and features original Daintee John Steel on guitar and keyboards,” says Martin. “It is loaded with spiritual intelligence, ‘love’ and some great songcraft and playing. It is a highly unique and original piece of work and represents The Daintees now.”

Born in County Durham in the Northeast of England on the 27th July 1961, Martin was initially fired up to play in a band when the punk rock phenomenon went over ground in the late 1970’s. He convened his band The Daintees in the early 80’s with the name deliberately chosen as a response to the humorlessness and angst of much of the music of the time. The Daintees became one of the first bands to sign to the Newcastle based independent label, Kitchenware. Their debut single, “Roll On Summertime” was a sparkling and charming affair that announced the arrival of a considerable new talent. After Kitchenware packed Martin and the band off to London Records, he released the marvelous debut album, ‘Boat To Bolivia’ (1985) produced by future Pixies, Bunnymen and James sound engineer Gil Norton. The album was packed with excellent rootsy pop songs which boasting a veritable rainbow of styles sung and played with a youthful enthusiasm and warmth that paradoxically perhaps, displayed a mature and unique song writing talent. Lengthy bouts of touring saw the band gain a reputation as a fantastic live act and cemented a loyal fan base which remains with him today.

Subsequent albums, ‘Gladsome, Humour and Blue’ (1987), ‘Salutation Road’ (1989) and ‘The Boys Heart’ (1992) Martin was very much inspired by Patti Smith, bringing her guitarist Lenny all the way over from New York to produce it for him Martin was constantly gaining heightened credibility as one of the UK’s cutting edge and most uncompromising songwriters . Something which London records seemed oblivious to in their quest for hit singles. This led to Martin kicking against the constraints that the label put in his way and undertook a tour of the Scottish highlands, playing folk clubs and tiny bars. Martin left London records in 1993 and also severed his ties with the Kitchenware management team. He signed to the west London based indie label Demon Records for whom he made three highly acclaimed albums, ‘Yogi In My House’ (1995), ‘Sweet Misdemeanour’ (1995) and ‘Beyond The Leap, Beyond The Law’ (1997). Following the sale of ‘Demon’ in 1998, Martin moved to the Tyneside based label Voiceprint and has released many unusual albums through his friendship with label owner Rob Ayling, one of which was a recording in Lincoln Cathederal, another was a field trip to North Carolina where he documented the penultimate vision of the life and times of Charlie Poole with a beautiful works entitled ‘The Haint of the Budded Rose’.

Free from the commercial constraints of the mainstream music industry, Martin relocated to the highlands of Scotland, and still works closely with Rob Ayling. As of late, well known promoter Simon Moran of SJM walked into one of Martin’s low key gigs and offered to promote a national tour for him, SJM are a very successful music promotions company who are currently putting together the long awaited ‘Stone Roses’ reunion. The new MS & the Daintees album ‘California Star’ will be tied in with the UK tour in April. It is the first proper Daintees tour since 1992 and tickets are flying out the door! “You can expect on this tour the first album played beautifully by a very tight and perceptive bunch of players, who love each other and are together for all the right reasons,” says Martin. “A second set (Best Of) with a lot of old Daintees faves, there is a center spot featuring our fave songstress ‘Helen McCookerybook’, ex-lead singer of Te Chefs’ – we are celebrating Helen, as she was one of our biggest influences.”

In closing Martin has this to impart to his devoted fans of many years: “Thanks for sticking with us, we could have taken more, but morally it was wrong, we were and still are a band with love consciousness and cosmic origin. We are true to the path, we survived the ’80s industry and drug cultures to continually practice love away from the limited perception of fame and bad manners.”